Case Study: ELIN Motoren GmbH

ELIN Motoren GmbH demonstrates this innovation and flexibility through its enterprise infrastructure. With the construction of the company’s new headquarters in Preding/ Weiz in Austria ELIN decided to implement a comprehensive renewal of the voice and data communications system across all its Austrian sites.

A new centralized, converged network was required, centred at the Preding/ Weiz HQ and with the highest levels of availability, performance and security. A comprehensive mobility solution was also planned for the company’s employees.

NextiraOne, Europe‘s leading expert in communications services, was responsible for the overall integration of the new communications system. This was particularly challenging due to the very short timescales involved with the building of the new headquarters. Linking the company’s other sites across Austria and the integration of a wireless LAN for part of the network also called for NextiraOne’s highest levels of technical and organisational expertise.

At the heart of the new communications infrastructure is an IP-based converged network based on Alcatel-Lucent technology. The Gigabit Ethernet network for voice and data communications provides Power over Ethernet (PoE), delivering high performance and reliability to the desktop.

Mobile data communications are also available in the company’s warehouse and in parts of the office complex in the company’s new headquarters. The Wireless LAN that provides these communications presented a particular challenge for the NextiraOne Experts team, as the 12 meter high racking is made of steel which inhibits wireless transmission.

ELIN Motoren GmbH therefore needed a high performance solution which would ensure the reliability and availability of the mobile network. Using Alcatel-Lucent technology, NextiraOne implemented a system that provides around 65 access points for reliable and secure communications. The transmission of verification data via hand and barcode scanners throughout the building has proved to be entirely reliable.

As part of the upgrade of the telephony system, the staff at ELIN Motoren GmbH have been equipped with IP telephones. Over 120 IP telephones and 100 DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications) phones now provide reliable communications throughout the network in Preding/ Weiz and at the company’s Vienna and Salzburg sites. By means of Power over Ethernet the networked devices are supplied with power via the Ethernet cable, thus saving on cabling.

The central management system handles the administration of the network and all devices. New software is installed and updates and new configurations are carried out remotely in real time without disrupting ongoing operations. In the case of a loss of power the system can shut down all terminals on the network.

GSM integration also enables mobile telephony off-site as well as in the offices. Mobile phones are connected and act like an extension within the main system and all usual applications, such as call forwarding, conferencing, redirecting and others, are available via the mobile phone under one single number. The administration of mobile devices is also handled via the central management system.
A comprehensive security solution and VPN connectivity between the sites is also part of the new solution from NextiraOne: the company has installed a Juniper SSG 550 Firewall at ELIN Motoren’s headquarters in Preding/ Weiz. This enterprise firewall provides comprehensive Unified Threat Management. Security risks are handled using tools such as anti-virus, intrusion prevention, web filtering and spam filtering. The firewall protects the network from malicious attack. Gateway protection secures the voice and data communications from external threats, whereas inside the network several security services come into play that can be extended to meet the future needs of the company.

The Vienna and Salzburg sites and remote users are all connected to the Preding/ Weiz headquarters via a virtual private network (VPN). These connections are also protected by the firewall.